Valve explains PS3 Orange Box delay News
PC
Xbox 360
PlayStation 3
News
by
Tom Bramwell
Valve has confirmed that the PlayStation 3 version of Orange Box will be released a bit later than PC and 360 builds - but said the delay is nothing to do with the console itself.
The reason for the PS3 build's late arrival, marketing director Doug Lombardi told Eurogamer, is simply that the EA UK team handling its development are on the other side of the ocean and are necessarily a bit behind the core Valve team's development.
"We weren't going to hold up PC and 360 for PS3," Lombardi told us, which means the PS3 game will probably be released "around two or three weeks later".
As it stands, PC and 360 versions are due out on 9th October in the US and 12th October in Europe. As well as retail releases, the PC version will appear on Steam. In terms of pricing, PC will likely go for GBP 29.99 while 360 and PS3 versions will cost around GBP 39.99.
But, to get back to the PS3, the good news is that Valve reckons the three versions will be identical in function and, critically, performance. That's good news for Sony fans who've been getting a bit of a raw deal from some cross-platform ports.
As for the quality of the games, we're not in a position to discuss specifics until our little friend the embargo removes his hand from around our throats, but it's worth remembering that buyers on all three formats get Half-Life 2, Episode One, Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2, which certainly represents value for money.
Look out for more news from Valve in the next few days.
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AaronTurner
07/09/07 @ 07:48
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Would be excellent if it came with Counterstrike. I'm well looking forward to this anyway.
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Eighthours
07/09/07 @ 08:08
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I'm taking the "same quality" thing with a pinch of salt for now, to be honest. Valve themselves versus EA inhouse port? Hrrrumph.
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crazyhorse174
07/09/07 @ 08:15
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Heres a question...why are PC versions of these games always 10 quid cheaper than the console ports of the same fucking game!
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ostrasized
07/09/07 @ 08:17
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I can answer that. Manufacturer's fees. Anyone who wants to release a game on Xbox or PS3 has to pay MS or Sony aroung £8 for every unit manufactured - irrespective if they're sold or not.
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Gabe Newell has mouthed off about the PS3 multiple times now. This I chalk up more to his Microsoft-centric world than any legitimate criticism. I suspect his complaints stem from expecting a single threaded DirectX engine to be a quick port to the PS3. Quite silly really. Even so, it hardly inspires any confidence about the quality of the port. The PS3 has suffered far too much from hand-me-down ports from secondary / contract teams and the negativity from the company's own head hardly makes me want to go out and buy HL2 on the PS3. If Valve really want to generate some hype, how about showing PS3 previews to the mags and let them report on it. If the port is good it will reflect in the previews. It's quite stupid to shove the thing out surrounded by negative comments and then expect sales to be great. I almost feel if the thing doesn't sell on the PS3 (thanks to Gabe's anti-hype and low expectations) that Gabe will be blaming the PS3 for that too.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 07/09/07 @ 09:23
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Freelancepolice
07/09/07 @ 08:22
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I could make a pc for the same price of a 360 which could play the orange box i reckon easily.
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pigwhistler
07/09/07 @ 08:30
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/start troll...
so the three versions will be identical in performance... does this mean they are borking the pc version?. /end troll... |
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Kind of a little fed up with half life these days. I guess it had to happen though in the face of stuff like crysis, farcry 2, halo 3, killzone 2 etc. etc.
Guess I'm just all FPSed out. I think I'll just shout from the sidelines "Go Gordon. Let me know what happens when you find the prof! yea a phone call would be ok...better yet just text me..mm kay" |
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The reason for the PS3 build's late arrival, marketing director Doug Lombardi told Eurogamer, is simply that the EA UK team handling its development are on the other side of the ocean and are necessarily a bit behind the core Valve team's development.
/awards spin doctor award of the month award Atleast he took the effort to think of an excuse. |
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Killerbee:I would image that would be the case. Can't see them retailing various combinations of what each individual wants.
Yup, can't really blame them for that - and for the normal price of a full game, it's still fair with Ep 2, Portal and TF2, even if you already have HL2 and Ep 1, if you have to have the boxed version. |
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I'm worried, for the 360 version in particular, that this title will get forgotten in the pre-Christmas rush. A lot of my mates from my previous company own 360s having been converted (in part, by me) from PS2.
They all loved CoD2 but dodged 3; but all are getting hyped by CoD4. None of them have played and HL or Halo games before (sacrilidge I know, but they're OK guys, honest!!!), but I reckon they'll go with Halo 3 over the Orange Box. Edit: (clarification): ...I can't see them buying a third FPS pre-christmas!!!! Personally, I reckon I'll be picking up OB for HL2 and Episodes 1&2 at that bargain price... I just fear there'll be no-one on my friends-list with whom to play TF2 :0(
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most recently on 07/09/07 @ 10:18
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Oh, and here's the confirmation on EA canning the black box, for you PC gamers...
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?art... Edd. |
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S.J.Rogers
07/09/07 @ 09:37
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@ evild_edd
Add me to your friends list as i will be playing TF2 to death..! |
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barnard666
07/09/07 @ 10:37
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there is so much game in there, I want toi get it (and will) I just dont know when I'll get to play it, with halo and mario coming out round there, and then COD4 and ratchet just after, I might actually not get it till january so I can actually give it the time it deserves...
hell, Id love to know what the achievements are for this game. It;s going to be a monster, splitting 1000 points between all that...finash HL2 on hard 10GP or finsh portal in under two hours, 1 GP...not thatr it matters of course. |
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rhinoxious
07/09/07 @ 10:40
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2-3 weeks is nothing really. It's hardly the end of the world for PS3 owners, unless they are very easily riled by trolling 360 fanboys.
My real worry is how I'm going to find enough time to fully appreciate all the online shooters coming out this year: Team Fortress Halo3 COD4 Anyone one of these three would deserve a few months uninterrupted play. |
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